Attacks on council staff revealed

BOOKS being thrown at a library assistant and an ‘irate’ motorist driving their vehicle towards a worker are among the incidents and accidents recently reported at Halton Borough Council.

The local authority covering Runcorn and Widnes has published figures covering health and safety incidents from the start of April up to the end of August.

A report to the corporate policy and performance board described the number of violent incidents experienced in different council departments over the five months.

There were 11 verbal incidents experienced in the Enterprise, Community And Resources department, of which eight took place in the borough’s Direct Links.

There were two instances of physical violence reported, which included books being thrown at a library assistant and an ‘irate resident’ driving a vehicle towards a waste management operative, which was reported to the police.

In the local authority’s People department, there was once instance of verbal violence and three which became physical, which all occurred within the Positive Behaviour Service.

In the borough’s schools from April to August, there have been 11 physical violence incidents and one case of abuse being given towards a teacher through social media.

No exact details are contained in the report about which schools in Runcorn or Widnes these incidents occurred at.

In terms of ‘significant’ accidents and ones which are RIDDOR (Reporting Of Injuries, Diseases And Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) reportable to the Health And Safety Executive (HSE), there were 11 within the Enterprise, Community And Resources department.

A further one occurred in the People department, but it excluded taking place in a school.

In the borough’s schools, there were two incidents which met this classification.

A total of five ‘near misses’ have also taken place over the five months. Last year, there were a total of 44 reportable and significant accidents for council employees, as well as five ‘near misses’.

Councillors were due to note the report’s contents at a meeting on Tuesday,

November 12.